Correlation of papain-like enzyme production with laticifer formation in somatic embryos of papaya.

A protease similar to papain was produced by somatic embryos ofCarica papaya in association with the development of laticifers containing characteristic vesicles which probably originated from the endoplasmic reticulum. In contrast to somatic embryos, a papain-like protease was not detected in either friable or compact callus cultures which failed to develop laticifers. These observations strongly suggest that the differentiation into laticifers is required for papain production in papaya.